Early in his career, Joe Chamberlain learned how to react to the unexpected. More than once the Ashe County Realtor® would be busy taking potential buyers to a property for sale when the hazards of mountain driving called for quick action. “I can recall on a few occasions
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First grade teacher Katie Matthews of Valle Crucis School has been chosen as a recipient of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Science and Mathematics Teachers, a highly competitive grant that provides $175,000 over five years to support exemplary and
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An ambitious group of High Country students is setting up a honeybee colony at Grandfather Mountain in an effort to educate thousands about the pollinator's plight. But a recent reduction in grant funding for the project means the group needs additional support to fuel the
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The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) has announced the selection of Lee Carol Giduz as its new Executive Director. On the first of April, Giduz will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Joann Mitchell last October. The selection was made after a national
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Western Youth Network (WYN) is kicking of their 30th year anniversary with a new School Based Mentoring Program. This initiative pairs volunteers with a youth who needs extra support in the school setting. The mentor provides their mentee with academic and social encouragement during
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The High Country United Way is now accepting applications for programs for the fiscal year 2015-2016. We seek proposals that meet the goals identified by our Community Impact Visioning Councils as well as those that continue to meet basic and emergency needs.
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Registration is now open for the AppState Office of Conference and Camp Services SAT Preparation Program. This course is offered in Boone prior to the College Board May 2 test date at Watauga High School. Students can choose the course that best fits spring schedules. For 2015, this
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A variety of community craft classes are beginning in February and March on the campus of Appalachian State University. Craft Enrichment at Appalachian State offers affordable classes taught by regionally known craft artists. These programs are open to everyone interested. Below is a list of classes starting soon:
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Two teams of Watauga High School students won awards at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Qualifying Tournament at ASU on Saturday and will advance to the state tournament at NC A&T University in Greensboro on February 14th. The two teams competed under the names of Team 8190
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Four art pieces by Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute students will become part of the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) permanent art collection in Raleigh, N.C. Since 1998, the NCCCS office has sponsored an annual exhibition of artwork submitted by
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In announcing the three winners of its “High Country Home Energy Makeover Contest” today, Appalachian Voices said that the need for residential energy efficiency improvements in one of the poorest areas of the state is even greater than originally believed. Nearly 70 residents of the High Country
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As part of a week of celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, celebrated today, there is a National Day of Service, with events including the 16th Annual MLK Challenge, with registration at Legends at 8am for placement on a team for a day of service with ASU and ACT (Appalachian
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More than 600 area residents recently attended Grace Academy’s 6th annual Chili-Cook-Off fundraiser on Saturday, November 8, and helped raise $19,000 for the school. Money raised will help off-set the cost of tuition and greatly contribute to the school’s operating budget.

On Monday night, October 27, the WHS Honors Acting class, the Pioneer Playmakers, will perform “A Fable”, their entry for the North Carolina Theatre Conference High School Play Festival. Written as a collaborative musical by Jean-Claude van Itallie, “A Fable” tells the story of
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Ashe County Coalition for the Homeless (ACCH) and Hospitality House are teaming up for Ashe County’s first Harvest for the Homeless campaign. Taking place Saturday October 18 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at Bohemia in downtown West Jefferson, the public is invited to stop by
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Erik Dyke, a double bassist with the NC Symphony visited the pre-kindergarten classroom at Hardin Park last Tuesday afternoon. Dyke talked with the class about the musical elements of pitch, rhythm, melody, harmony, and dynamics and about the types of instruments (strings,
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Sarah Tyndall, an eighth grader at Cove Creek School won the Watauga County Schools Spelling Bee Friday, correctly spelling “harpsichord” as the final word in the competition. In addition to Sarah, the other school champions participating in Friday’scompetition included Parker
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Appalachian State University’s Jazz Ensemble I and Jazz Faculty are hosting a concert Tuesday October 14th, on the stage of the Schaefer Center with Phil Woods; composer, arranger and bandleader, called a true American ambassador for jazz. He has performed with nearly every
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F.A.R.M. (Feed All Regardless of Means) Café will be hosting a new community forum and dinner monthly starting in October. F.A.C.E.S., which stands for Food, Agriculture, Community, Economy, and Spirituality, will be a platform for community members to discuss issues affecting the
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